Photo Credit: England and Wales Cricket Board
This weekend Graces CC and Unicorns CC will make history by competing in what is believed to be the first cricket match played between two wholly inclusive LGBTQ+ cricket clubs.
The two teams will go head-to-head this Sunday at Weoley Hill CC in Birmingham.
The game has been supported by the ECB – with the ECB ACO providing officials for the day – and Warwickshire County Cricket Club, with the latter putting on a coaching session for both teams.
The match will be available to watch via live-stream, supported by Frogbox.
ECB Chief Executive Officer, Tom Harrison, said: “It’s really fantastic to see two teams like Graces and Unicorns – teams formed with LGBTQ+ inclusion at their heart – joining together to take part in this historic match.
“We want cricket to be for everyone, we want everyone to feel welcome, and we want to help remove barriers to entry to our sport.
“Teams like Graces and Unicorns, and events like Sunday’s, can play a big role in helping to further welcome LGBTQ+ cricket fans and cricket players alike, and I’m really excited about the game of cricket coming together to break down barriers and become more inclusive.”
Graces CC chairperson Leo Skyner said: “Our club was founded to promote inclusivity in cricket, and we are incredibly excited to be playing the Birmingham Unicorns in the first LGBTQ+ inclusive game of cricket some 25 years on.
“With the match getting such good coverage and support from such a range of partners, we are looking forward to it becoming a stepping-stone towards making the fabulous game of cricket more LGBTQ+ inclusive – for players, supporters, officials and for anyone and everyone who enjoys the game.”
Unicorns CC captain Lachlan Smith said: “We are really proud and excited to be able to play in what we think is the first-ever LGBTQ+ inclusive game of cricket anywhere in the world.
“Making cricket as inclusive as possible is important to grow the game and give more people an opportunity to engage in a sport where LGBTQ+ people haven’t always felt at home. This match is a crucial milestone in creating a legacy and providing a foundation to improve LGBTQ+ involvement in cricket.”
The game will be available to watch via live-stream.
Name of Author: ECB
The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) is the national governing body for cricket in England and Wales, formed on January 1, 1997. It combines roles from the Test and County Cricket Board, National Cricket Association, and Cricket Council, and integrated the Women’s Cricket Association in 1998. Based at Lord’s Cricket Ground, the ECB oversees all levels of cricket, including national teams for men, women, and various disability categories.
